Multiple operation of translating devices.



P. U. HEWITT.

MULTIPLE OPERATION OF TRANSLATING DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 1912.

1,1 10,550, Patented Sept. 15, 191%.

Q 60 l 7 5 C) ()5 BY M STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ASSIGNI lIENTS, TO COOPER HEWITT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF HOBOKEN, NEW 3' A GORZPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MULTIPLE OPERATION OF TRANSLATING DEVICES.

Original application filed May 23, 1903,

current and the resistance in both branches is the same. In such a circuit it is not generally difficult to make an even division of the load or, in other words, to make the fall ofpotentialin both paths exactly the same.

The problem of running similar translating or transmitting devices in parallel becomes more difficult when the devices to be operated are either such that the drop is practically independent of-the current flowing, as for example, in the mercury vapor apparatus shown in Patents Nos. 682,690 to 682,699 issued September 17th, 1901, or such that the resistance decreases more or less rapidly with increments of current, as in the well=known Nernst lamp. Under such circumstances, it is practically impossible to so construct the similar translating or transmitting devices asto get an exactly equal loss of voltage in two parallel paths including such devices, the consequence being that 1 all the current will flow through one to the exclusion of the other, unless special-ballast devices are provided.

The solution of the problem which depends upon introducing ohmic resistance or other choking devices into one or bot-h of the parallel circuits is open to objection on account of the losso'f efficiency in the system due to the presence of such devices. By providing means, therefore, for exactly balancing the electro-motive forces in the two I paths without substantial loss of energy, or

interference with the regulation or the supply of energy in the system, a substantial improvement in the art is accomplished.

Itis the object of the present invention Broadly, this result is accom lished by introducing into each of the para lel paths means whereby a flow of current in this path produces an electro-mo- Specification oi Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

Serial No. 158,456. Divided and this application filed April 27, 1912. Serial No. 693,753.

tive foroe in the opposite paths in such a direction as to assist the flow of current in such opposite path. In this way, if the electro-motive-forces consumed in the two paths be slightly unequal, due to unavoidable lack of similarity in the translating or transmitting devioes, the slight increase of current in one path will cause a slight additional electro-motive-force in the second path sufiicient to exactly balance the diflerence in the two electro motive forces. In any case, the

1 PETER ooornn nnwrTT, 0F amewoon MANOR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE losses .areonly those due. to the ohmic resistance of the windings and the possible slight hysteresis'losses the-.ironwhich may be reduced by appropriatedesigu to a negligible amount.

For the urposes-o f illustration, I have selected as 't e devices which it is desired to run. in parallel circuits the gas or vapor electrical devices above referred to. For special illustration'I have chosen a number of vapor converters which have the quality of permitting current {How in one direction only, and Ihaveint'ro-duced such devices in parallel pathsi between an alternating current supply circuit and a direct current receiving circuit. v

The details of my invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in wlrich Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, are diagrams of various embodiments of my invention.

In the drawings,l and 2 are the mains of a supply system, the source being any suitable source of alternating currents. The main conductors of the receiving circuit are shown at 3 and 4 and'translating devices requiring direct current appear at 5, 5. Any suitable direct current translating devices may be placed in the receiving circuit; or these devices may be omitted.

Between themains 1 and 3, I introduce two parallel circuits, 4:0 and 60, containing the devices, 6 and 7, which-1t is desired to operate in parallel. These devlces are here represented as being of the type of mercury vapor electric apparatus, each consisting of a suitable container mclosmg a conducting gas or vaporand provided with a positive electrode 8 and a negative electrode 9. Devices of this character have the property of permitting current flow in one direction only, the direction in the present or transmitting device 7 and the coil 12.

The direction of current flow is always the same, inasmuch as impulses of opposite direction cannot pass from the supply to the receiving circuit owing to the character of the devices 6 and 7. It will be understood that the last named devices will be constructed in the first instance to have as nearly the same resistance as possible. To compensate, however, for the unavoidable slight difference in apparatus of this class, I introduce the inductive apparatus consisting of the coils 10 and 12 and the core 11.

The relations of the respective coils are such that when the load is evenly divided between the two branches, the opposinginductions of the coils substantially cancel each other. Should the branch 40 begin to take a slight excess of current as compared with the branch 60, the inductive eifectproduced by the increase of current in the COll 10 would be such as to create an additional electro-motive-force in the coil 11, tending to increase the flow of current in the second branch. By these means a change of load in one branch will produce counter active effects upon the other branch whereby the fall of potential in the two branches will be maintained practically equal, thereby making it possible to operate the two devices in parallel circuits.

In Fig. 2 the two branch circuits run to a single gas or vapor electric apparatus, in which, however, there are two current paths, one between the negative electrode 9 and the positive electrode 13 and the other between the same negative electrode and the positive electrode 14.

In Fig. 3 the inductance device including the coils 10 and 12 and the core 11 are transposed with relation to the devices 6 and 7 as compared with the position which they occupy in Fig.1. The action of the system is unchanged. 1

In Fig. 4 each of the coils 10 and 12 is connected in series with a translating device 5, the two translating devices, the two coils,

and the two devices 6 and 7 ,being, however, in parallel relation. The action is obvious. In this figure I have shown a coil relation which difl'ers from that illustrated in the earlier figures of the drawing in that the coil 10 is wound with half as many turns as the coil 12 has, whereby a proportional relation between the two coils is maintained, though not an equal one. A further multi plication might be made use of, or a similar diflerence in the number of turns might be introduced into the systems illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 shows the application of the principle herein set forth to a system of supply from an alternating source wherein both phases of the alternating current are impressed upon the receiving circuit. The latter includes a suitable translating device 15, such as an induction motor, and may include any kind of number of alternating current translating devices.

Between the mains 1 and 2, I introduce a .variable inductance, 16, a resistance, 17, and

the primary, 18, of a transformer. I also introduce into the branch circuits two gas or vapor devices, 19 and 20, each of which is provided at its opposite ends with start- 1ng bands, 21, 21, 21, 21. Asbefore, each gas or vapor apparatus is in the same circuit with one of the coils 10 or 12. The secondary, 22, of the transformer has one terminal connected to the starting bands at one end of the gas or vapor devices and the other terminal connected with the other starting bands.

The function of the starting bands appears to be that of creating an electric strain at the surface of the electrode near which it is placed, such strain tending to assist the normal strain at the terminals of the apparatus. By connecting the terminals of the secondary circuit to the starting bands, an additional strain is produced which, when properly timed, may cause a discharge through the apparatus at any selected point in the phase which is dominant at the time. The connection between the windings 18 and 22 produces a definite voltage between the electrodes of the devices 19 and 20 and the starting bands 21. The object of the variable inductance and the resistance is to permit of any desired adjustment such as will causethe application of the critical strain at the starting bands at the desired moment, or the desired point in the phase.

The application of the critical strain to the starting bands is only one of a number of ways in which a starting strain may be applied to the apparatus in order to secure the passage of current therethrough. The details of such systems are fully described in other pending applications for letters patent and it is only desired here to describe the operation in a general way. Clearly, however, the receiving circuit, 3 and 4, in Fig. 5 will be afi'ected by impulses of opposite, direction from the supply circuit, delivered through the transmitting or translating devices 18 and 19, while the action of the coils 10 and 12 and the core 11 will have the same corrective efiiect as has been fully set forth in the preceding description.

This ap lication is a division of my application filed May 23, 1903, Serial Number 158,456, Patent Number 1,052,056

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a plurality of parallel gas or vapor rectifiers, each including an exhausted container and suitable electrodes, including a cathode, of connec tions between the several cathodes, and a common direct current main, each of said connections including an inductance, and connections for completing the circuit through a suitable load and an alternating current source, the inductances being inductively relatedto each other,

2. The combination with a plurality of parallel gas or vapor rectifiers, each including an. exhausted container and suitable electrodes, including a cathode, of connections between the several cathodes, and a common direct current main, each of said connections including a balanced inductance, and connections for completing the circuit through a suitable load and an alternating current source, the inductances being inductively related to each other.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State'of New York this 25th day of April A. D. 1912.

PETER COOPER HEWITT Witnesses:

F, E, BARNES, R. B. Hnwrrr. 

